Kitcat

That is a NEW track. Love the downhill "S's". How long is the straight? Wldn't mind if they cut down some of the pines right on the track. The one rule of racing is-if it's there, a car will eventually hit it. A corollary is- a car at high speed can get into the most amazing places.

Some good news finally on this thread! My memory is seat belts must be replaced after being stretched during a wreck. Your G meter showed abt 5 G's on impact so I suspect that yours got stretched. Just a thot. Really glad to hear things are looking up for your car, Karl. Looking forward to reading of your track exploits again, tho I know it will still be an effort to get the Caterham shipshape.

Abacus tuned my Haltec managed Duratec, I will have to get it to a dyno. It's a pretty mild state of development: redline is only 6800. My lowly X-flow was 6600 rpm's.

Folis has a Zetec developed to the nth degree. Ditto his Birkin. Folis is in his mid 70's. He proves that old age just gives you more time to go racing. Michael, the hood ornament in the Caterham video looks suspiciously familiar. Car wudda gone a lot faster if both Caterham headlights were sideways:).

I have so many questions... Guess the cop parked behind him did too:).

Perfect excuse to get a CSR!

And/or, that you are invisible. I use full windshield/full face helmet on the street, this photo shows why a set of goggles wont cut in in a worse case scenario.

Skip: Ya gotta give Hank a ride!

Jim, I think its a NJMP rule for their own track days. Why? Who knows, it seems totally unnecessary. Maybe YellowSS can explain?' I have done abt 100 trackdays and like to say I have seen it all, but never saw or heard a meltdown like the poor little Porsche driver's. I have been been "gently chided" for various driving infractions, and have had the occasional heart-to-heart with other drivers, but always done in a friendly way, whether I was on the receiving or the giving end.

The Porsche is way over-breaking into the turns. Interesting that it never really powers away from the mighty Miata. The instructor drives the "Croc" line thru Octopus (or visa versa). It had to be a bit frustrating to have to stay behind the instructor's much slower car, lap after lap.

Nice lines, really using all the track, climbing the curbs, etc. We do the Octopus totally differently (and you have seen where that got me:)), otherwise we have the identical approach.

Sounds like the beginning of a great book to me. I saw you guys and your rig, trailer and all, at Putnam park, who knows when, on one of the 1-laps. I went to spectate and cheer local hot shoe Danny Popp onward. I saw your open car, the day was freezing cold, cloudy, windy, looking like rain, and I thot; "Those guys are crazy!" Turns out I was right:).

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Man, I am so sorry. This is the ugly side of doing track days. Esp on the older tracks where the walls lurk, and there is so little margin of error. As you crested the hill you seem to have gotten light, and the rear wheels broke loose, and when you landed, probably just slightly off kilter, you spun. You can hear the rev's jump up and see it on your in-car tach. Mike M.

Sevens and Elans Texas Motorworks E-bay (Used cars, Lotus other) Caterham USA Loony (Lotus Owner Group on New York) Tony Vacarro (PM me and I will send his e-mail address). Join the se7ens.net (USA)

Randy Chase, who is the new Caterham dealer on the West Coast has posted on anther forum abt how many missing parts/wrong parts his Cat kits have come with. All remedial, just frustrating.

Mike: Are you now a member @NJMP? I have to say, I saw the spec on that Miata elsewhere and thot, jeez, it cld be a bit humbling, even in our mighty se7ens, to be in its run group, esp if he knows how to drive. I'd like to think I wouldn't cry tho:).

A problem w/the leather and cloth seats is they dont provide for an anchor strap. And a 4 point harness is pretty worthless with out that. In other words you should have a 5 point/6 point harness system, esp if you are tracking your car. You can put the anchor strap in front of the seat and flop it up over the front edge of the seat cushion. But that only provides the illusion of saftey as there is then so much slop in the anchor strap (due to compressing the soft seat cushion when stressed), that it serves no purpose. So, if track days are part of your goal, I'd go w/a race seat design. I have Caterham's CF Tilet for myself and Tilet fiberglass for passenger. Both are very nice/ridiculously expensive. As to leather vs. cloth, I loved my cloth Caterham seats. Very comfortable for touring. I think they grip your body better than leather and dont get as hot in the sun. They don't look as cool tho. I have done 650 mile jaunts in a day in my CF Tilets and they are ok, not great-the cloth Caterham seats are barco-loungers in comparison. I love the Tilets at the track, much better than cloth and of course, the anchor strap provides some security. (BTW-I am 5'9", 160 lbs).

OK, according to my inexpert ear, I rank my top 7 favorite cars, on sound alone, as follows: #1] C3 Vette ('67?), #2] Exige w/large wing, #3] Red fast back Mustang ('67?), #4] McLaren, #5] 40th anniv X-flow Cat, #6] MoPho's Mr Orange-wh/to my eyes has gotten even better looking w/time. Mite be the ultimate Caterham, visually (IMHO). #7] The Westfiled Lotus XI clone.

Terry: Why SV for over 50 years old? I am 65 and have had no issues w/my S3 Cat and now S3 Birkin (except for not enough power:)). Mike M.

I recently drove 950 miles round trip, the same day, to give my new grandchild my first hug. But Dubai...., wow! Grandparenting is an amazing experience, I know you are enjoying it.

Fabulous car, obsessively maintained/upgraded by a se7en nut with the wherewithal to indulge his addiction. Result, an amazing bargain for some lucky buyer-IMHO.

Also sporting Caterham tail lights, no? Perhaps the rear fenders are Caterham as well?

Good job Karl! You learn many things when you spin (in addition to humility:)): car control, car non-control, where the limit is, realizing exceeding the limit is (ordinarily) survivable, and you get that special feeling that comes when you realize that fate will determine the outcome of the spin. Plus it makes Tom so happy!

For sale on Craig's list. BRG w/yellow stripe, twin-cam, $25K. Item # 2925458593. Looks to be in decent shape.

Not sure, I sold my X-flow here last Fall for abt $2K less than I paid, but 4 years & 16K miles later. I do know that patience is a virtue when selling. And if it's a Caterham, it helps to drop Tony Vacarro a line.